Looking Forward into 2021

 

Though I am not ready to finalize all my 2021 goals yet, I can say with certainty that I will stop populating An Imperfect Christian Mom at the end of the year. The next couple of years in real estate will be busy ones considering my increased responsibilities with the Realtor board, so I need to find ways to make everything work best for me.

Over the last few years, I've slowly reduced my blogs. Starting in 2021, you can find me at the following:

• The Book Connection 
• The Children's and Teens' Book Connection
• Christian Children's Authors (posting Christmas Eve, but don't have a 2021 schedule yet)
• 4RV Reading, Writing, & Art News (post on second & fourth Wednesdays)

Mailbox Monday will move to The Book Connection. I am discontinuing Task it Tuesday. 

Though I am sad my blogging time is decreasing, I am thankful for continued real estate success and for the ability to still enjoy what blogging I can manage. 

Task it Tuesday - Nov 24

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Well, Thanksgiving week is here. The Christmas tree has been pulled out of the basement. I vainly am attempting to get the house in order despite a work schedule that seems to fill my days. I keep trying to take days off, but it's not happening. As of this morning, I've added four client meetings to my schedule. Here is what I need to accomplish this week

• Daily Bible reading
• Walking five days
• Meetings Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday
• Blog Wednesday
• Cleaning Wednesday
• Cooking Thursday 
• Review Around the World in More Than 80 Days on Friday
• Come up with marketing plan for the new edition of A Christmas Kindness--since the book is now out, I'm a bit late on this one
• Mail out a copy of A Christmas Kindness 
• Look into a new publisher for my GAP books--moving to January 2021
• Look into getting a small dumpster--moving to January 2021
• Prepare for new listing 
• Put up Christmas decorations Saturday
• Take Sunday off

I am probably forgetting something, but let's see how it goes. What is one thing you want to get done this week?

An Imperfect Christian Mom's COVID-19 Diary #15

 

I must get inspired every couple of months to jot down my thoughts about this crazy COVID world we are living in. When I posted in September, it had also been two months since my previous entry. 

Wow! What a year 2020 has been. I would be hard-pressed to find any other year since I was born that compares to this one. So many challenges, so much loss, so much anger, hate, and distrust. It saddens me, because we are so much stronger when we pull together. 

We are seeing an uptick in COVID cases in the Commonwealth, so new restrictions went into place today.  Some schools are switching to remote or delaying hybrid models. We will have to see what the fall and winter look like. 

I'm trying to stay focused on the positives, especially in light of this being the month for thanksgiving. Here are some things I am thankful for:

• Satisfying career
• Having most of my family close
• Sunday night Bible study
• Our health
• Getting outside more often and exploring the woods
• The support of family and friends
• The joy of blogging

If you are reading this, I pray for your continued health and happiness. May peace one day rule the earth. 

Task it Tuesday - July 21

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Welcome back to Tuesday. I have to admit to feeling unproductive this week. I have tasks, but don't feel like tackling them. When I feel this way, I take a walk to clear my head or force myself to plod through. I took a short walk this morning and also watered the garden. This afternoon, I hope to go back into the garden for a bit to keep the weeds from growing too quickly.

Let's look at last week's list to see what I accomplished.

• Meal planning - DONE
• Daily Bible reading - DONE
• Update planner  - DONE
• Walk three days this week - DONE
• Book review due Wednesday - DONE
• Empty pantry Tuesday night or Wednesday morning - DONE
• Added - Clean upstairs bathroom - DONE
• Added - Clean bonus room - Started

So, last week was probably the most productive week I've had in a while. I'm thrilled.

Here is what is on my list this week.

• Daily Bible reading - on track
• Weed garden
• Update planner 
• Three doctor's appointments 
• WriteAngles meeting
• Walk three days 
• Start Strong from the Heart by Jon Land for August review
• Continue cleaning bonus room
• Finish chapter 2 of The Sisterhood

Looks like my week is full. What does your week look like? Anything specific you need to accomplish?

Task it Tuesday - June 16

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Welcome back to Tuesday. This will be my busiest week of the month. In addition to the Realtor Week of Advocacy in Massachusetts, I have numerous other appointments--personal and professional. It always gets hectic this time of year. I am going to do my best to take Saturday off. I haven't even thought about what to get my husband for Father's Day.

Here is my list for the week

1. Bible reading
2. Realtor Week of Advocacy (Mon - Wed)
3. Meal planning (done)
4. Editing more of The Sisterhood 
5. Blogging (scheduled)
6. Doctor appointments (Mon, Fri)
7. Clean bonus room (definitely not this week, but needs to stay on the list)
8. Get books together for vacation (done)
9. Start packing 

What does your list look like this week? 

An Imperfect Christian Mom's COVID-19 Diary #4

 

It has been a month of closed schools and businesses. Over the last week, grocery stores in the area have taken even greater precautions to keep consumers and employees safe, like one way arrows in all the aisles to control the flow of traffic.

My new normal is working mostly from home, Zoom for all work or volunteer group meetings, and the entire family home for who knows how long. For Easter, I tried to keep things as normal as possible. Easter egg hunt for the girls in the morning and turkey and ham for dinner. Even though we had a much smaller group than usual, we had a nice time.

More deaths from the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke hit the news (52 so far). Our hearts go out to all those affected. I am grateful that my father-in-law is holding his own so far.

My family is finally getting to see my neat freak side. I think I have washed the kitchen floor three times this week. It helps with my allergies, and now that the living areas have had a good cleaning, I want to keep them that way.

I've read a mix of fiction and non-fiction lately. Before I became a blogger, I had read only non-fiction for two years. I'm grateful blogging turned me back on to the great fiction out there. My main blog, The Book Connection, has been around for more than a decade. Some blogs have come and gone, but I'm thrilled that the loyal readers keep tuning in. More time to blog is a blessing of the current situation. I'm also using my extra time to reach out to folks to see how they are doing. We need to support each other.



When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

Isaiah 43:2

Monday Morning Ramblings

I didn't have anything new to share as far as books in my mailbox, so I figured I would ramble a bit this morning.

Here is how my week went as far as meeting my goals from Task it Tuesday:

• Daily Bible reading - Done
• Log food in Lose it! daily - Done
• Maintain planner daily - Done
• Meeting Tuesday - Done
• Start real estate bootcamp Tuesday - Not done
• Meeting Wednesday - Done
• Grocery shop Monday and meal plan - Done
• Finish extra material for A Christmas Kindness - Not done
• Edit next two chapters of project - Working on
• Copy edits for Dust of Lies - Working on
• Exercise Saturday and Sunday - Not done
• Bylaws meeting Friday - Done
• Take health assessment for insurance - Done
• Clean the bonus room - Probably next week
• Organize spice and herb shelf in pantry - Done

I made decent progress this week, but I am bummed at still having a bonus room filled with clutter. My hope is to turn that into the exercise area, but I can't use that as an excuse not to exercise. I'm happy I am keeping up with tracking my calories, reading my Bible, and maintaining my meal plan and mindfulness journal. The real test will be if I can do those things once we hit the spring market.

Working on editing today. Then I need to finalize the extra material for A Christmas Kindness. 

I'm still looking for a new church. Honestly, I haven't gone out of my way to attend services every week. My heart is broken realizing this will no longer be family time. The girls have no interest and the hubby barely any interest. They want the old church back, which doesn't exist anymore. Still, I need to move forward and find what I need.

That's it for today's ramblings. I hope you all have a blessed week.

Task It Tuesday - Dec 17

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

We have a snow day today, so I'm trying to clean the bonus room. I'm not sure how far I will get. The rest of the week is a blur of things to do and then we leave on Sunday for NYC. God willing, all that needs to get done will happen.

Here is what I had planned for this week:

1. Read a chapter from the Gospel of Luke each day 
2. Exercise twice
3. Get 6 hours of sleep at least 5 nights  
4. Finish decorating
5. Wrap gifts
6. Write Christmas letter
7. Keep editing the new manuscript
8. Blog 
9. Complete four more pages of additional content for A Christmas Kindness (kind of stuck on this right now)
10. Write a chapter of Amelia's Mission 
11. Continue 2020 Business Plan
12. Submit Clever Tom and another idea to my publisher 

That is it from my neck of the woods. What is on your list this week?

Task it Tuesday...on Thursday

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

So, as you can see, my week has been nutty. I'm trying to get ready for Christmas, the girls have events, the kittens won't stay out of the tree or stop eating everything in sight so I can't decorate, and the cold temperatures just make me want to curl up in a comfy chair and read or write all day.

Here is what I had planned for this week:

1. Read a chapter from the Gospel of Luke each day (on track)
2. Exercise twice (I consider clearing snow exercise, so I was good this week)
3. Get 6 hours of sleep at least 5 nights  (Most days)
4. Keep editing the new manuscript (working on it)
5. Blog (a bit behind, but blogging)
6. Complete four more pages of additional content for A Christmas Kindness (not yet)
7. Write a chapter of Amelia's Mission (not yet)
8. Start 2020 Business Plan
9. Submit Clever Tom and another idea to my publisher (not yet)

I'm a bit stuck on the new content for A Christmas Kindness. I am halfway there, but not sure what else to add. I think Clever Tom will need to wait until after Christmas or between Christmas and New Year's.

How is your week going?

Task it Tuesday - Dec 3

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Welcome back to Tuesday. By the time this posts, I hope most of the snow is done. We had about six inches Sunday afternoon into Monday morning, and then a break until Monday evening when it started up again. We already have the two to three inches more they said we would probably get, so it can stop any time now.

With this being the last month of the year, I'm working on reviewing goals and finishing up what I can. I haven't felt much like working, but bills need to be paid so I'm forcing myself to stay on track. Here is what this week looks like:

1. Read a chapter from the Gospel of Luke each day 
2. Exercise twice 
3. Get 6 hours of sleep at least 5 nights  
4. Make 150 copies of Christmas ornament craft for charity event
5. Keep editing the new manuscript
6. Blog
7. Complete four more pages of additional content for A Christmas Kindness 
8. Write a chapter of Amelia's Mission
9. Start 2020 Business Plan
10. Submit Clever Tom and another idea to my publisher

That's it for this week. I have a variety of meetings for work and a holiday event to attend at the Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday with my husband. I've been shopping a bit, so hopefully there won't be a mad dash at the end for Christmas preparations. The kittens are still attacking the tree multiple times a day, so we haven't decorated it yet. Not sure if the tree will have anything else but lights this year. Oh, well. 

Hope you're having a productive week.

Task it Tuesday - Nov 19

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Last week and this week have been productive. I'm committed to ending the year strong.

Here is this week's task list:

1. Daily Bible reading - not quite
2. Exercise twice - not even close 
3. Get 6 hours of sleep at least 5 nights - maybe 3 nights
4. Start editing a new manuscript - not yet
5. Blog - yep
6. Complete two pages of additional content for A Christmas Kindness - yes
7. Prepare for a closing - yes, closed today

One project that wasn't on the list was cleaning my office closet and organizing all my books. That took a while, but it's done.

This week's list:

1. Daily Bible reading. I'm two days behind. (Hear me sighing now.)
2. Exercise twice (Want to bet on this one?)
3. Get 6 hours of sleep a night - not on Sunday or Monday
4. Start editing a new manuscript - should happen
5. Blog - definitely
6. Complete two pages of additional content for A Christmas Kindness - already done and have done two more. Only 14 more pages to go.

What are you hoping to accomplish this week?

Task it Tuesday - Nov 12

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

In checking, September 24 was the last time we had a Task it Tuesday. I would say I've been a bit distracted. :) This is what the list looked like then:

• Daily Bible reading
• Exercise four times a week (never happening, but the doctor says so)
• Blogging
• Get the yard ready for winter
• Clean the house
• Finish cleaning my office
• Get 6 hours of sleep a night
• Edit a manuscript
• Compile additional content for the hardcover release of A Christmas Kindness in 2020

What did I accomplish?

• My Bible reading has been a bit more sporadic than I would like, but several times a week I am spending time in the Word. This will require some additional discipline in 2020.
• I have not exercised and I have gained a tiny bit of weight. I need to consider a plan for how to use my barre, the cookbooks, and the workouts I have here to exercise regularly; if for no other reason than to help me be in better shape in case I need to defend myself while out showing houses. 
• Blogging is fairly regular, but you'll see big gaps when I got so busy I barely slept. I've decided to stop populating my Christian book blog for a while. I will use this blog to post about those titles. I need to better focus my activities.
• Made good progress on the yard, but the vegetable garden still needs to be taken care of. Might try that this week. 
• My office is CLEAN!!! It took almost three days, but my closet is free of stuff I don't want; my TBR pile has been organized and I donated some books; all my real estate supplies now fit in the closet with the overflow of books in boxes; and I can see my floor. 
• My sleeping habits have definitely improved, but I still abuse myself a couple times a week and stay up too late.
• Finished that manuscript. Now, I am waiting for the copy to come back from the publisher so we can catch anything that might have been missed.
• Some material has been put together for A Christmas Kindness. 

Here is this week's task list:

1. Daily Bible reading
2. Exercise twice
3. Get 6 hours of sleep at least 5 nights
4. Start editing a new manuscript
5. Blog
6. Complete two pages of additional content for A Christmas Kindness
7. Prepare for a closing

What are you working on this week? Anything you need to stay focused on to complete?

Task it Tuesday - July 23

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Well, last week was the typical week after vacation chaos. Not as much done as I would like, but still made progress:

• Read Bible daily - Still in Proverbs
• Blog - Blogged at all but one blog last week
• Edit three chapters - Finished two out of three
• Listings - One made it online. Still waiting for the other two to be ready.
• Make car appointment for next week - DONE
• Pay bills - Ha! Ha!
• Exercise Wed and Thurs - Did it Wed, so that's progress. 

What does this week look like? 

• Read Bible daily - I'm still behind, but I'm still reading
• Blog - If I post once this week at each of them, I will be happy
• Edit three chapters - Probably optimistic, but should get two done
• Pay bills - Must do
• Exercise  Mon, Tues, Thurs - The doctor said four days a week, but probably can't do that (Monday is done)

What does your to-do list look like? Are you accomplishing what you've wanted to? What are some obstacles that stand in your way?

Task it Tuesday - Jul 9

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Happy Tuesday from the Outer Banks. Hope you're having a great week. We are enjoying our second week in North Carolina.

The Christmas Shop, Manteo

Top of Jockey's Ridge, Nags Head

Waiting for the fireworks on July 4th

Lil' Diva's boyfriend, Lil' Diva, Neighbor's kid (our third daughter), and Lil' Princess

I'm doing my best not to work much, but I have several deals in the works, so real estate has required some of my time. Hopefully, after today, most things will be wrapped up.

It's important not to forget my to-do list. Here is my list for the week:

• Read Bible daily (almost caught up)
• Blog
• Edit four chapters (two done)
• Read
• Enjoy the last week of vacation

Hope you have a great week.

Task it Tuesday - June 25

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

It has been a tough week. A dear friend and member of my church family is in the final stages of her cancer battle. I was blessed to be able to spend time with her family yesterday at the hospital. We prayed together. Cried together. Laughed together.

My to-do list is the furthest thing from my mind, but I need to stay somewhat focused to get everything done.

Here is my list for the week:

• Daily Bible reading (still catching up)
• Blogging
• Review one book
• Pack
• Oil change on Wednesday
• Hiking on Wednesday
• Weed the garden
• Vacuum 
• Wash kitchen floor

Hoping you all have a blessed week.

Task It Tuesday - June 18

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

I am at the point of crying mercy. My list only grows. It's like I can't check anything off it.

Okay, enough whining. Life is good, and though I am not accomplishing what I want all the time, I am still managing to get a lot done and still enjoy life.

Here is my list for the week:

• Daily Bible reading (still catching up)
• Beta read a manuscript - 80% done
• Edit the next chapter of a manuscript for the publisher 
• Blogging
• Review one book
• Make lists for vacation
• Workout - Friday (I am doing stretches while cooking these days, so at least that is better than nothing)
• Start bringing up things from the basement for vacation
• Weed the garden

Task it Tuesday - Jun 11

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Spent two days (one day last week, and then yesterday) with the kids, totally dedicated to them, so I am feeling good about myself. Next week will probably be Thursday, since the rest of the week is crazy with work.

I did not, however, get a lot of things from my to-do list checked off. I'm not feeling it lately. Why? I'm not really sure. Energy levels are way low. I'm still adjusting to the CPAP machine too.

Here is what this week's to-do list looks like:

• Daily Bible reading (still catching up)
• Beta read a manuscript - 80% done
• Edit the next two chapters of a manuscript for the publisher - DONE
• Blogging
• Review one book
• Make lists for vacation
• Workout - Friday and Saturday

What is on your list to accomplish this week?

Task it Tuesday - May 28

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

We are quickly coming to the end of May. Both girls will be done with school by Friday, so summer vacation is on our minds. That can make tackling a to-do list tricky; though I often find it helps me focus on accomplishing things so I can enjoy more down time while I am away.

This week's list is a bit different because of the plans to get ready for graduation.

• Daily Bible reading
• Order flowers
• Buy gifts for graduation - scary that I have to remind myself to do this
• Rework the flower beds - most are done, but there are a few more plants I need to move before the landscaper comes and puts down fresh mulch
• Beta read a manuscript - 60% done
• Edit the next two chapters of a manuscript for the publisher - one chapter down, one to go
• Blogging
• Write one chapter of Amelia's Mission
• Review two children's books

What is on your to-do list this week? Any graduations or other end of school year events you're working on?

Mailbox Monday - May 20

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Will someone please tell me how to freeze time--kind of like Mel does on Charmed. Honestly, I can't keep up. Right after I am done with this post, I need to finalize a listing presentation for tomorrow morning. The girls are getting close to the end of the school year, so there are a lot of activities going on. All our eyes are focusing on visiting the Outer Banks again this summer.

In my writing and reading world, I've increased my blogging a bit--not sure how long that will last--and worked to catch up on the reviews I have coming down the line this month and next. This year, I want to bring some books to read "just because I want to" when we travel. Nothing much going on with my middle grade novel. It is sitting around Chapter 21. Need to write one more chapter before the next writing group meeting. I also really want to nail down a couple of agents to submit Clever Tom to before we go away.

Only one new book this week, but it is a good one that was recommended by a trainer.

What was in your mailbox this week? Anything exciting you would like to share?

Task it Tuesday - May 14

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Tuesday creeps up on me so fast lately. I had planned to schedule this early, but life had other plans. I've been nursing a nasty tension headache and work doesn't seem like it will be slowing down soon--which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Decent progress with last week's to-do list. Here is what it looked like:

• Daily Bible reading - DONE
• 5-5-5-5 plan for reaching out to people: 5 calls, 5 texts, 5 emails and 5 handwritten notes every day - Lots of calls, emails, and texts but no notes
• Set up photographer and staging for new listing - DONE
• Polish query letter for Clever Tom - Didn't even touch it
• Barre workout Monday and Friday - Monday done and a short workout on Friday
• Start finding a way to plan meals - Haven't even contemplated where to start

This week's list looks like this:

• Daily Bible reading
• Listing appointment and broker's open
• Barre workout Wednesday and Saturday
• Beta read a manuscript
• Edit the next two chapters of a manuscript for the publisher
• Blogging three days this week

What's on your to-do list? Is there something you are aching to get done or have been putting off? What is one thing that motivates you?